Lucas Silva returns to Real Madrid training while Luka Modric steps up recovery

Real Madrid star Luka Modric has given another step in his recovery from a knee injury by returning to work with the ball during Monday's training session. Yet, the big news of the workout was the return of long-term absentee Lucas Silva following the heart issues which blocked his move to Sporting Portugal during the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos and Casemiro continued their respective rehabilitation in the gym while the rest of the players available had a recovery session ahead of the Copa del Rey trip to Cultural Deportiva Leonesa on Wednesday night (24 October).

Los Blancos took advantage of Atletico Madrid's defeat to Sevilla to move to the top of the La Liga table thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, with substitute Alvaro Morata scoring in the winner in the 82th minute of the game.

Modric, Ramos and Casemiro all missed the game due to injury and are also set to continue on the sidelines when Real Madrid visit minnows Cultural Deportiva Leonesa on Wednesday.

The Croatian international is yet to play since the Champions League draw against Borussia Dortmund on 27 September after he was forced to undergo minor surgery on his left knee earlier this month, in order to extract a fragment of damaged patella cartilage. Real Madrid failed then to set a exact timeline in his recovery but reports in Spain at time suggested that the former Tottenham Hotspur star could be on the sidelines for between one and two months.

But it looks that the Croatian return to action is not too far as Real Madrid have now revealed that the midfielder was already able to work with the ball on Monday morning, having already returned to do some light running in the pitch last week.

"Sergio Ramos, Modric and Casemiro continue their recovery processes. The Croatian was also out on the pitch working alone with the ball and as he completed a physical circuit," Real Madrid confirmed in its official website while adding that Lucas Silva also returned to "returned to training with the group."

The Brazilian midfielder had an unsuccessful loan spell at Olympique Marseille during the last campaign. Yet, the worst for the 23-year-old holder came in the summer when he was discovered to have a heart problem during his medical at Sporting Portugal.

Real Madrid failed to register him in the first-team squad for the 2016-2017 campaign too and Silva was even forced to deny he was considering to retirement. Yet, the Brazilian recently received the medical clearance and now is back in training with Los Blancos with hopes to find another club to move on loan during the coming January transfer window.

Meanwhile, most of the Real Madrid starters against Athletic survived a recovery session as Zinedine Zidane's boys begin the preparations for the Copa del Rey opener.

"Real Madrid returned to training and completed a recovery session two days before the opening Copa del Rey match against Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa at the Reino de León stadium (9pm CEST). The players who started the home victory against Athletic worked inside, except for Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo, who were out training on the pitch," the club added.